Sea Lion Species Removed from Endangered Species List

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The eastern Steller sea lion, which roams the West Coast between
Alaska and California, has been taken off the U.S. Endangered
Species List after a major population comeback over the last
several years.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA)
Fisheries Service, which manages the population, announced the
decision this week after proposing to
delist the sea lion species last year.

"We're delighted to see the recovery of the eastern population of
Steller sea lions," Jim Balsiger, administrator of NOAA
Fisheries' Alaska region, said in a statement. "We'll be working
with the states and other partners to monitor this population to
ensure its continued health." [ Images:
Sea Lion Pups Make a Splash ]

Steller sea lions, whose scientific name is Eumetopias
jubatus, are the largest of the eared seals. Historically,
the animals had been hunted for their meat and hides and killed
by fisherman who blamed the animals for stealing their catch. The
creatures were first added to the Endangered Species List in
1990 in light of evidence that the species had experienced a
steep decline over the previous decades.

According to biologists' estimates, the number of eastern Steller
sea lions had dwindled to around 18,000 by the late 1970s.
But by 2010, the population had bounced back to more than 70,000
individuals, NOAA officials said. That translates to a growth
rate of 4.18 percent each year, exceeding the federal agency's
recovery criteria.

The Endangered Species Act, signed by former President Richard
Nixon, was one of the most powerful laws to come of the
environmental movement of the 1970s. When an animal gains
protection under this law, biologists and federal wildlife
officials must outline a plan to help the species recover and
determine how to measure the success of their conservation
efforts. The recovery plan for the eastern Steller sea lion,
revised in 2008, set a goal of a 3 percent annual population
growth rate.

Federal officials say they will continue to work with state
marine wildlife managers in Alaska, California, Oregon and
Washington to monitor potential threats to the sea lions,
including boat strikes, energy exploration, habitat destruction
and fishing.

Under the new rule, the western group of the species, which is
genetically distinct and ranges from Alaska to the Pacific coast
of Russia, will hold on to its endangered classification.
NOAA Fisheries officials say they are investigating reasons why
the eastern population has recovered while the western Steller
sea lions have not.